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Marvel Studios
Captain America: The Winter Soldier is filled — and I mean jam-packed — with genre-bending, action-heavy, sportily tense and relentlessly sinuous, sky-high-concept and maniacally bonkers stuff. Polygonal mayhem that aims, and impressively so, to top the Marvel lot in ideas, deconstructing every thriller staple from government corruption to talking computers to odd couple agents gone rogue. But oddly enough, the moment in the Cap sequel that I find most arresting several weeks after seeing the film is our peaceful reunion with Steve Rogers, trotting merrily around the Washington Monument as the sun rises on our nation's capital.
The scene is shot from far overhead, a low pulse/high spirits Chris Evans reduced to a shapeless blur as he repeatedly (but politely!) laps fellow jogger and veteran Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)... and yet it might be the closest we feel to Cap throughout the movie.
The Winter Soldier has a lot to worry about in the delivery of its content. Managing a plot as ambitious and multifaceted as its own, with themes as grand as the scope of the American mentality — as represented by Steve Rogers, raised in the good old days of gee-golly-jingoism — it doesn't always have the faculties to devote to humanizing its central troupe. Cap isn't left hollow, but his battles with the dark cloud of contemporary skepticism play more like an intriguing Socratic discussion than an emotional arc. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, a character who ran circles around her Avengers co-players in flavor, feels a bit shortchanged in that department here (in her closest thing to a starring role yet, no less).
Marvel Studios
Mackie's Falcon, a regular joe who is roped into the calamity thanks largely to his willingness to chat with a fellow runner — a rare skill, honestly — is less of a problem. He doesn't have much to do, but he does it all well enough. Dynamic though he may be, Mackie keeps things bridled as Cap's ad-hoc sidekick, playing up the along-for-the-ride shtick rather than going full (or even half) superhero. We might want more from him, knowing just how fun he can be, but it's a sating dose. The real hunger is for more in the way of Black Widow, Cap, and — perhaps most of all — the titular villain.
Still, these palpable holes pierce through a film that gets plenty right. As elegantly as Joe Johnston did the Spielberg thing back in 2011, Joe and Anthony Russo take on the ballots of post-innocence. They aren't afraid to get wild and weird, taking The Winter Soldier through valleys that feel unprecedented in superhero cinema. We're grateful for the invention here — for Robert Redford's buttoned-up Tom Clancy villain, for the directors' aggressive tunneling through a wide underworld of subterranean corruption, and especially for one scene in an army bunker that amounts to the most charmingly bats**t crazy reveal in any Marvel movie yet. We might be most grateful, though, for a new take on Nick Fury; here, the franchise gives Samuel L. Jackson his best material by a mile.
But in the absence of definitive work done in our heroing couple, a pair rich in fibers but relegated to broad strokes and easy quips in this turn, most of it amounts to a fairly good spy thriller, not an ace-in-the-whole neo-superhero masterpiece... which, justly or otherwise, is what we've come to expect and demand from these things.
3/5
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Coldplay's Chris Martin, Stevie Nicks, country star Carrie Underwood and rocker Bruce Springsteen will be among the stars honouring this year's (14) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The Boss' sidekicks, The E Street Band, will be inducted at the ceremony in New York City later this month (Apr14), and Springsteen has agreed to do the honours himself, while he will also perform with his group during the show.
Nicks and Underwood will perform a tribute to Linda Ronstadt along with Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow, and Glenn Frey, who played in Ronstadt's backing group with his Eagles bandmate Don Henley, will induct the singer.
However, Ronstadt will be absent from the ceremony due to health issues.
Nirvana will be inducted by R.E.M. star Michael Stipe, Martin will honour Peter Gabriel and Tom Morello will look after KISS, while The Roots' Questlove will introduce Hall & Oates.
Gabriel and fellow inductee Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, will also be among performers during the show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on 10 April (14), but KISS have refused to take to the stage following a dispute with organisers.

Paramount via Everett Collection
You don’t mess with a geek’s favorite comic book characters. Ben Affleck was cast as Batman and it almost broke the Internet. Halle Berry was cast as Storm and Catwoman and people are still dealing with it in therapy. Yet, the new Fantastic Four’s cast of Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and That Awkward Moment co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller has actually drummed up some excitement for a reboot. Although offbeat choices, the actors are actually making the generally lame Fantastic Four seem... interesting.
It’s hard to cast iconic roles like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman because everyone has an opinion. They are beloved, timeless, and it can be challenging to decide whether to cast an unkown or a major star. But the Fantastic Four are hardly as iconic as either of DC's top dogs, or any of Marvel's other heroes. The distinct casting choices might actually save the Fantastic Four reboot, after the critical failures of the first go 'round.
For instance, Bell might not look like a big goon like Ben Grimm, but he might better capture the alienation of turning into a big rock than Michael Chiklis could. Mara is a vastly different choice than Jessica Alba was for Sue Storm. The House of Cards star may be able to give her more of an edge than she usually gets in the comics. Jordan is perfect because he can blend comedy with drama. He stretched his dramatic muscles in Fruitvale Station and showed the human side of superpowers in Chronicle. These casting choices add another vital layer to a comic book that’s about a family unit. But families are more complicated than road trips to Venus and the drama of sharing a bathroom. The former films focused too much on keeping the look and cheesy tone of the original comics. Alba may have been the physical match for Sue Storm, but her character didn't have the necessary flare.
The Avengers is a prime case for lame characters saved by good acting. Thor is an obnoxious thunder god who decides to spend his free time on Earth? Chris Hemsworth captures that cockiness but also brings the superpower of abs to the table. Robert Downey Jr. patented blend of sarcasm and humor saves a character whose super power could have read like a glorified Inspector Gadget. The Hulk is such a hard sell it took two movies and three actors to get him ready for The Avengers. Thanks in no small part to such gifted actors, the movie ranks as one of the highest grossing in history.
Conversely, Affleck went to a much darker place than the comics might have allowed for the role of Daredevil. Matt Murdock is a blind lawyer with vastly enhanced senses. Affleck did a great job and, shockingly, proved he could play Batman. Affleck’s character was battle-worn, addicted to painkillers, and cut off from society. All that and he actually had super powers. This film is like one long screen-test. It was actually disappointing that Affleck couldn’t just put on the black leather outfit and pointy ears. A blind superhero who uses sonar to “see” seems to undercut the character succeeding over adversity. Also, he, Bullseye, and Kingpin aren’t interesting enough characters for their own movie.
Likable actors who give great performances make the difference. They not only ground the magic and science-fiction and the ever-revolving high stakes but they also make the movie fun to watch. They are also able to find another access point to the character. On paper, these characters are just archetypes but the right actor can make them full-fledged people. If you have any questions as to the complexities of playing comic book heroes be sure not to ask Brandon Routh, Ryan Reynolds, or Jennifer Garner.
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Weinstein Company via Everett Collection
Ugh... Mondays, am I right? Every week kicks off with that trademark despair so expertly articulated in Mike Judge's Office Space: you've got a case of the Mondays. Luckily, Netflix has you covered, with plenty of pick-me-up comedies to make the worst day of the week a bit more jolly. To start off our Netflix Hand-Picked Flix recommendations, we suggest The Sapphires.
Set in 1968 to a soundtrack of the biggest soul hits of the time, The Sapphires follows a family of Aboriginal Australian women (Miranda Tapsell, Deb Mailman, Jessica Mauboy and Shari Sebbens), who are discovered by a washed-up, alcoholic Irish talent scout, Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd), and become a soul-singing girl group performing for troops in Vietnam.
Although the film doesn’t downplay either the political turmoil of the time or the personal struggles of the four main characters — Gail, the oldest, is trying to keep her family safe and whole, Cynthia is looking for a chance to rebel against her conservative family and live her life, Julie is torn between her young son and her dreams of being a singer, and Kay, who was stolen from her family as a child because she could pass for white, is struggling to find which group she belongs in — The Sapphires is ultimately a hilarious, uplifting film. Much of that is due to O’Dowd’s wonderfully goofy performance as Dave, who can’t keep from screwing everything up, no matter how hard he tries, and he and Mailman’s fantastic chemistry helped make the obvious romance between Dave and Gail both amusing and touching.
You can stream The Sapphires on Netflix, and make sure to check back tomorrow for our recommendations for the perfect Bluesday Tuesday movie.
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DreamWorks
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention — always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
DreamWorks
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old — the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
3/5
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Bryan Cranston won rave reviews for his performance in All The Way after its opening night on Broadway on Thursday (06Mar14). The Breaking Bad actor impressed critics with his portrayal of America's 36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson, in the Bill Rauch directed play about the struggle to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Cranston's performance was hailed as "effortlessly captivating" by theatre critic Mark Kennedy at Associated Press, while Joe Dziemianowicz at the New York Daily News called him "a force to be reckoned with".
USA Today's Elysa Gardner writes, "Strutting gut-first and affecting a gruff Southern drawl, the leading man delivers the emphatic, crowd-pleasing performance that the play, and Bill Rauch's vigorous direction, require, while also making Johnson affecting as a flesh-and-blood human being."
Hermione Hoby at Britain's Daily Telegraph writes, "The play might be a star vehicle but its star delivers. It's thrilling to watch Cranston go from his default, comic stance of forward-thrust hips and slumped shoulders, to fearsome, chest-puffed, confrontation."
A star-studded audience was in attendance, which included Gayle King, Josh Lucas, Jennifer Morrison, Chris O'Dowd and Hank Azaria.
The production - which also stars This Is Spinal Tap's Michael McKean - is due to run until 29 June (14).

ABC Television Network
The future of Trophy Wife is unclear, but we can safely predict that its hilarious bombshell star Malin Akerman is going to be around for a long time. The Swedish/Canadian actress took on the infamous Reddit "Ask Me Anything" challenge on March 4 to answer fan queries about her current and former costars (a veritable who's who of contemporary comedy), her first reaction to her sitcom's title, and steering clear of boring "girlfriend" roles. Check out our favorite parts below and see the entire session here.
On the first thing she'd do if she were Matthew McConaughey for a day:"Take my shirt off!"
On what exactly Ben Stiller smells like:"A mix of Pine Cones and new car smell…that's if he hasn't had any Mexican food."
On working with the husband to her Trophy Wife, Bradley Whitford:"I'm officially Bradley's biggest fan after working with him. He is the biggest ham! So friggin funny. The best part is that when he is interviewed, so many people mistakenly call him Bradley Cooper and he never corrects them…he just rolls with it."
On the wackiest moment in her trip to White Castle with Harold and Kumar:"I had to lick Freakshow's (Chris Meloni) boils on our first day of shooting. Good way to ease into a role."
On holding out for the funny parts:"Not that I was offered this role, but had the chance to read The Hangover and decided to pass on the opportunity to go in for an audition. I preferred the male roles in the movie…something like Bridesmaids would have been awesome."
On her show's deceptively vapid title:"When I first saw the title of the show I said, 'Hell no! I do not want to play a vapid Trophy Wife,' but after reading the script, I realized that it was a tongue in cheek title and I absolutely loved it. From then on it was all about finding the right cast…and I feel like we hit a home run with our hilarious actors!"
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Former The Wire star Michael B. Jordan is refusing to pay attention to negative comments concerning his casting in the new Fantastic Four reboot, insisting critics will always have something bad to say. The African American actor recently landed the role of Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in the forthcoming comic book movie, taking over from Chris Evans, who portrayed the superhero in the 2005 original.
Jordan's appointment as the classic character prompted some film fans to speak out against the casting decision as his on-screen sister, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, is set to be played by Caucasian House of Cards actress Kate Mara, but the 27 year old is paying no mind to his "haters".
He tells the Huffington Post, "People are going to be critics. Haters are going to find something to hate about (sic). I'm a young black man. I've been criticised."
Referring to his famous namesake, basketball icon Michael Jordan, he jokingly adds, "My name is Michael Jordan. He gave me a chip on my shoulder that I needed (early on in life) to push me (to achieve)."
The Fantastic Four remake is also set to feature Jordan's That Awkward Moment co-star Miles Teller and British actor Jamie Bell, as Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic and Ben Grimm/The Thing, respectively.
The movie is due to be released next year (15).

NBC Universal Media
Jerry Seinfeld is known to most people for his iconic hit television sitcom Seinfeld (1989-1998), but his latest web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is clearly his best work.
Interest in the show has been growing since its 2012 premiere, and the recent Seinfeld "reunion" tie-in with the Super Bowl has introduced many audiences to the show for the first time. The show, which streams on Crackle, is straightforward, and the brilliant title is not at all misleading. In each episode, Seinfeld and another comedian drive around in a classic car and share a cup of coffee. It's like a late night talk show but more genuine: Seinfeld chooses fellow comedians he is fond of, his guests aren't there to promote anything, and the conversations feel spontaneous and honest. Although we'll never know if the show is planned like other talk shows, there's a sense that the conversations are mostly improvised, and because Seinfeld's guests are fellow comedians, we trust that they aren't censoring themselves in front of the cameras as, say, a politician or movie star would.
Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is preferable to his famous sitcom because it is his purest artistic statement to date. At this point in his career, the respected comedian can do whatever he wants, and that he chooses to push the creative boundaries with each project is remarkable. In this case, Seinfeld offers a meta-commentary on the art of comedy. His encounters with guests like Louis C.K., Tina Fey, Chris Rock, and Larry David provide glimpses into the entertainment industry and the experience of being a professional comedian. More interestingly, they demonstrate what draws individuals to comedy in the first place. Comedy, Seinfeld and his guests suggest, is the ability to laugh at the absurdity of life and the irrational, meaningless experience of being in it. Whether it is Chris Rock's articulation of why bullying benefits children, Larry David's rant on why it doesn't matter whether he drinks coffee or tea, or Louis C.K.'s justification that he went into debt to buy a boat, there's a sentiment that none of it matters so they might as well laugh at it while they can.
Seinfeld has always been a brilliant observational comic, and most critics and fans deem his self-titled sitcom "a show about nothing." However, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee is the ultimate show about nothing, but the irony is that as we follow Seinfeld and friends as they talk about the meaning of comedy and the meaning of life, nothing inadvertently becomes everything. It is doubtful that Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee will become as popular as Seinfeld, but as an artistic and comedic expression, it is by far Seinfeld's greatest achievement.
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Marvel Studios
Fox has just announced the cast of Josh Trank's upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, and things are looking a little left of center. Joining Michael B. Jordan's Johnny Storm will be Miles Teller as Reed Richards, Kate Mara as Sue Storm, and Jamie Bell as The Thing. And while some of these casting's aren't quite set in stone, this is increasingly looking like the final lineup for the film. Saying that the new movie is casting against type would be an understatement. The new cast is virtually unrecognizable compared to the 2005 version, and the internet is erupting in reactions from every inch of the emotional spectrum. From seething rage, to elation, and even mild confusion, The casting of Marvel's first family has people divided in earnest. Here are our thoughts on the casting choices.
MILES TELLERas Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
A24 via Everett Collection
How He Fits: He kind of doesn't. At all.
How He Deviates: There’s a loveable goofiness to Miles Teller, but we're not quite connecting the dots between him and Reed Richards just yet. He’s not quite nerdy enough, and he definitely doesn’t have a dignified scientist aura to him. We don’t see much of Reed Richards in Teller at all.
How He Compares to Ioan Gruffudd: Worse. Gruffudd was one of the few bright spots of the largely banal first film. He really looked the part of Reed Richards.
Public Consensus: The one phrase to sum up the twitter reactions would be a resounding "Uhhh….What?" People seem to be mostly just confused by the casting choice, and many are complaining that Teller is simply too young to play Reed. Twitter user @dylhorgan asled, "This week in bad superhero movie casting: How is Miles Teller even close to being old enough to play Reed Richards?"
Final Assessment: Teller, for our money, is the biggest question mark of the casting announcement. There isn’t anything about the actor that screams “Mr. Fantastic”, though he was obviously cast for a reason. I guess we’re going to have to wait and see on this one.
KATE MARAas Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
Netflix
How She Fits: Physically, Mara seems to be a match for the Sue Storm in the comics, especially since she’s recently dyed her hair blonde. Personality-wise, she seems like a solid choice as well, since Sue is somewhat reserved and shy – Mara plays a lot of quieter characters. Between her ambitious reporter on House of Cards and her hacker/revolution-leader in Transcendence, Mara shouldn’t have any trouble portraying Sue’s genius intellect.
How She Deviates: Mara’s characters tend to be a lot darker than Sue Storm, who gives off a more innocent, all-American vibe, which could affect the way that Sue is written for this reboot.
How She Compares to Jessica Alba: Mara’s definitely a better choice than Alba, who, while not terrible, wasn’t given much to do other than run around and look pretty.
Public Consensus: Fan response to the casting has been overwhelmingly positive. To quote Twitter user @Roby_Aguilar: "OMG. OMG. OMG. MILES TELLER, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, JAMIE BELL &amp; KATE MARA IN FANTASTIC FOUR?!?!?!?!?! God is real. GOD. IS. REAL."
Final Assessment: Mara’s a good choice for Sue Storm. She’s a talented actress, and she doesn’t fit the “bombshell” constraints that female actresses in superhero films tend to get stuck in, which means she will hopefully get more to do onscreen than Alba did. And since it seems to have been the least outrage-stirring casting choice that the team behind this reboot has made, she also seems to be approved by the fans. She generally comes across darker and more serious than Sue is, though, and since we haven’t really seen her play particularly upbeat characters, that could keep her from meshing well with the rest of the cast
MICHAEL B. JORDANas Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
20th Century Fox Film via Everett Collection
How He Fits: Jordan has the natural charm and charisma to play a freewheeling ladies man, but he also has a daring quality to him that a character like Johnny Storm needs. He might not have the necessary physique quite yet, but a quick trip to the gym can fix that.
How He Deviates: The biggest deviation in all of the casting news, Michael B. Jordan is nlack whereas Johnny Storm has always been portrayed as a white man. Cue the Twitter riots.
How He Compares to Chris Evans: Better. Now don't get us wrong, Evans played a fine Johnny Storm. But over the past few years, Jordan has proven himself to be a monumental young talent. While Evans certainly had Johnny Storm's trademark wit in spades, Jordan might be able to mine the character's hidden depths while still cracking wise and getting the girls.
Public Consensus: Many have commented on Jordan’s race being an issue, but (optimistically!) an emerging tide of Twitter users are trumpeting the actor's talents, laying waste to the idiotic arguments that a black Human Torch is "sacrilege." Twitter user @ZachLNFS tweeted “Michael B. Jordan is the one bright spot in the Fantastic Four cast and, of course, the most derided. Good job, Fox. Good job, internet." Other’s are wondering how Kate Mara and Michael B. Jordan are going to play siblings. We're guessing adoption.
Final Assessment: The actor clearly has the goods to play a terrific Johnny Storm, despite what some of the seedier corners of the Twittersphere think about race in comic books. Ignorant tirades aside, he’s clearly the best actor of the bunch and a considerable step up from the previous Human Torch.
JAMIE BELLas Ben Grimm/The Thing
Summit Entertainment via Everett Collection
How He Fits: Once Ben Grimm becomes The Thing, he has a lot of trouble dealing with his new powers, which take a toll on him emotionally. Bell plays a lot of brooding characters, which means he would have no trouble portraying all of the inner turmoil that The Thing is experiencing.
How He Deviates: Ben and The Thing are huge, strong, muscular guys, whereas Bell is… not. This is less important after he turns into The Thing, but since we don’t know how much of the group’s origins the film will focus on, it might be difficult to believe that Bell spent his childhood protecting Teller from bullies. Ben’s also a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, while Bell tends to come across as serious and brooding.
How He Compares to Michael Chiklis: When it comes to giant orange space rock monsters, nobody beats Michael Chiklis.
Public Consensus: It’s pretty mixed. There are plenty of people who are excited about his casting, but many are concerned that’s he’s not built enough to play the role properly – for example, Twitter user @BCCrooky said they would "like to see Jamie bell, scrawny Jamie bell who played tinting, as Ben Grimm aka the thing."
Final Assessment: We probably would have swapped Bell and Teller’s roles, if we’re being honest. Bell just seems to work better as a serious, genius scientist, while Teller seems more likely to play his upbeat sidekick. However, Ben has a difficult time dealing with his transformation, which caused a lot of psychological trauma; Bell would definitely be able to play those aspects of the character really well. Since he’ll likely spend most of the film being CGIed into his rocky form, his acting ability is probably more important than his physical appearance in the end.